Horse-blanket.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

G. A. BULLEs.."j HORSE BLANKET. APPLIUTIO FILED FEBs' 1902.

11o nonnp.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

" No. 726,357. PATENTBD MAY`5,-19o3.

G. A. BULLES. HORSE BLANK-ET.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 28| 1902. N0 MODEL.

2 sund-snm 2.

UNiTED STATES Patented ivray 5, 190s.

GEORGE A. BULLES, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

HORSE-B LANKET.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 726,857, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed February 28| 1902. Serial No. 96,167. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BULLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Au rora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Blankets, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in horse-blankets; and the objects attained by my improvements are manifold, as will hereinafter appear.

In the horse-blankets now in Athe market and in common use no provision is made for the lying down and getting up of the animal, for his stretching while standing, or for many of the movements of the body and limbs which every horse makes when in his stall, and con# sequently the ordinary blankets soon become torn,work loose, and get under the horses feet, sometimes frightening or injuring him and always resulting in damage to the blanket.

My invention overcomes the above-named disadvantages and has advantages of Vits own. While it iits snugly the horses form, it allows perfect freedom of movement, retains its position under all conditions, and is adjustable to horses of differentsizes and weights.

My improved blanket may be quickly and easily applied to the animal and as readily removed. It is made in two sections, thus making it less clumsy to handle, and the sections are so formed that theymay be used separately, if desired.

A further object attained by my invention is to provide a covering for the horse which will Y afford the greatest warmth and protection where most needed-viz. in the neighborhood of the heart, lungs, and other vital organs` and it will be seen that at such points I have provided three thicknesses of material.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, I have shown the preferred forms or patterns used in constructing the different parts of my blanket; but I do not wish to be'limited to the exact patterns so shown', as 'their outlines may be changed without departure from the essential elements of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l represents my improved blanket as applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fore portion of the blanket, showing the position it takes resent thefore portion of myi mprovedblanket,

the same being formed of two complementary ellipsoidal-shaped sections, which are secured together at one end and at the point of connection is attached aleather pad A4. The said sectionshave their edges bound with strongtapes, and other tapes d3 extend thereacross about midway between the ends of the sections. Along the tapes on the inner edges of the sections are inserted a plurality of eyelets a', which are adapted to register with each other when the sections are folded over a horses back and shoulders, as shown in Fig. 2'. At the junction of the tapes 0.3 with the binding-tapes around the inner or rear edge of the sections A is placed an eyelet, and when said eyelets in the respective sections are brought together by folding the two sections as shown the blanket will be adapted to a horse of average size-say eleven hundred pounds. l If it be desired to adjust the blanket to a larger horse, the eyelets toward the free ends of the sectionswill be brought together, while if it is intended for a smaller horse the eyelets toward the attached ends of the blanket will be brought into registry, thus increasing or diminishing the neck-opening formed by the overlapping sections. The tapes a3 serveas a convenient guide in making the adjustments j ust described. Secured tothe outer or forward edges of the sections are spring-hooks o?, which are designed to engage the overlapping adjacent edge ofthe complementary section, so that said edges when the sections are folded-on the horse will be kept together and prevented from slipping back or forward as the horse turns his head, neck, or body and will also prevent the end which is on the outside from blowing back. In the pad A4 are two eyelets a5, in which are secured the tapes b4 of the body-section B, to be described.

B represents the rear or body portion of my improved blanket, which when folded is of the rectangular form shown, with the line of fold made to con form to the shape of the back of a horse. This portion of the blanket is designed to extend from a point just forward of the horses shoulders to and around his buttocks and when secured to come up under his belly. Binding and reinforcing tapes are secu red around the edges of the section B and along the center longitudinally on the folding-line. Other tapes or straps b' extend from the rear to the front edge on each side and terminate at the front edge in elastic straps b, which are supplied at their outer ends with hooks which are adapted to engage the eyelets a5 in the pad A4. From the rear ends of the tapes h on each side of the blanket extends an elastic tape or strap b3, which connects the rear edges of the blanket and serves to draw the latter closely about the buttocks of the animal, as shown in Fig. 5. As the straps b3 and b4 are elastic, it will be apparent that they will not interfere with the horse stretching, and that when he is through with such movements said tapes will return the blanket to its normal position and fit.

Tapes b2 extend downwardly and forwardly from near the crupper-strap, intersect the tapes b at a2, and are adapted to cross each other under the horses belly and have their free ends secured in the eyelets a on the rear edges of the section A A, as indicated in Fig. l, thus holding the blanket snugly about the body of the horse and preventing the fore section from being displaced either by the movements of the horse or by the action of the wind. Extending from the upper end of the tapes b2 is a tail-wrapping strap b5, which is detachable and may take the place of the ordinary crupper-strap or be auX- iliary thereto. This tail-strap is made from any suitable material, preferably of the form shown, and is adapted to be wound about the upper portion of a horses tail in the manner shown in Figs. l and 5, thus serving to prevent the blanket from slipping forward on the horses back and at the same time protecting the tail and keeping it in proper shape and condition while the horse is being transported or while standing in the stall. At the point of detachably securing the tailstrap an ordinary crupper-strap if is secured. On the median seam of the section B near the crupper is secured a catch b9 of any suit able form, which serves as a means of attaching the rear end of an elastic strap a3, which is adjustable as to length and the forward end of which is adapted to be detachably secured in the registering eyelets a in the sections A. As the strap a3 is adjustable as to length,it may be adapted to horses of different lengths, and as it is of elastic material it will not interfere with the horses stretching, while its tension will prevent the section A from slipping down over the horses shoulders or neck when he throws his head downward.

In placing my improved blanket on a horse I first apply the body portion and connect the rear edges of same with the elastic strap U3. I then throw over his shoulders alten nately the sections A, one overlapping the other, as shown in Fig. 2, and with the eyelets in their respective edges registering. I then pass the strap b2 on the right side of the section B under the horses belly, carry it forward and bring it up on the left side, and secure the end in one of the eyelets a in the rear edge of the sections A and repeat the operation with the strap b2 on the left side of the section B. The strap b5 is then wound about the horses tail and secured on the opposite side and the crupper-strap, if used, placed under the tail in the usual manner. The backstrap as, properly adjusted to the'length of the horse and secured at one end to the catch h on the section B, is brought forward and fastened in the eyelets a on the median line of the horses back. The clips azare placed over the contiguous edges ofthe sections A, and the straps b4 have their free ends connected with the eyelets a5 in the pad A4. It will be seen that the sections A are connected with the section B at five points by the straps or tapes a3, h2, and b4 and that the section B is practically belted around the horse by the straps b2. It will be noted also that I have dispensed with buckles and snaps in my improved blanket, thus avoiding any possible injury to the horse. The fastening means which I have adopted are eyelets and catches having buttons which are adapted to engage the eyelets, said fastening means forming, however, no part of my invention and are therefore not shown in detail.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a sectional horse-blanket, a portion fitting around the animals neck, extending across and covering his breast, and overlapping on his shoulders, said overlapping portion being adj ustably connected with its corresponding underlying portion, substantially as set forth.

2. A horse-blanket having a portion fitting around the animals neck, extending across and covering his breast and having portions folded in reverse directions over the animals neck, said folded portions overlapping each other, whereby a double .thickness of material is obtained at such points.

3. In a horse blanket, a portion fitting around the animals neck, extending across and covering his breast, and having its ends overlapping each other, means for adj ustably connecting the end portions, and means for connecting the front edges of such overlapping portions.

4. In a horse-blanket, a portion adapted to cover the animals body from a point in front of his shoulders to and including his buttocks, and means for connecting the rear edge of said section to the animals tail and for wrap- IOO IIO

the overlappingportions being adjustably connected together, in combination with a body-section having its forward portion uni derlyingsaid fore section, and covering' the back, sides and buttocks of the animal, means for securing the body-section tothe tail, and means for adjustably'securing saidbodysection to the fore section.

In testimony whereof' I affix my signature zo in presence of twowitnesses; I

' GEORGE A. BULLES..l 4

Witnesses W. M. MERCER, F. BENJAMIN. 

